Hazel Dukes, the president of the New York State chapter of the NAACP, passed away at 92 at her home in New York City surrounded by family. Throughout her nearly five-decade career leading the NAACP, she fought for voting rights, economic development, fair housing, education, and spoke out against police brutality and for adequate healthcare. In 2023, she was awarded the NAACP’s highest honor, the Spingarn Medal, by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Dukes helped pave the way for Black women to hold high-level positions, such as supporting Shirley Chisholm’s historic presidential bid in 1972 and encouraging former President Joe Biden to select a Black woman as his running mate in 2020. She was instrumental in former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign. Dukes also ran her own consulting firm and was a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. Her legacy has been described as touching every aspect of the civil rights movement by NAACP leaders. New York City Mayor Eric Adams ordered flags to be lowered at half-staff in tribute to Dukes, and Vice President Kamala Harris hailed her as a hero whose legacy continues to inspire.
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